Voters in Scotland should use the European election to send a message to Theresa May that “Scotland has had enough of being ignored”, Nicola Sturgeon has said. 

Speaking at the launch of the SNP’s European election campaign in Edinburgh, the party leader said that “this is by far the most important European election in Scotland’s history.”

The party’s campaign launch takes place on the day 750,000 postal ballot packs arrive with voters – around one in five of the electorate – in Scotland.

Europe Day, observed on May 9 each year, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. 

Nicola Sturgeon said:

“At this election the SNP offers a message of hope and ambition.

“Hope for a better country.

“And ambition for the positive role Scotland can play in Europe and the wider world.

“This is by far the most important European election in Scotland’s history.

“At stake in this election is not just which parties and which candidates will be elected to the European Parliament.

“At stake also is whether Scotland can remain inside the European Union at all.

“On May the 23 rd by voting SNP, people in Scotland can send an unequivocal message to Theresa May.

“That message is this: Scotland has had enough of being ignored.”


The SNP’s six candidates – three men and three women – are led by Alyn Smith, who has been an MEP since 2004. Christian Allard, who was born in France, is second on the list of candidates, followed by the party’s former environment minister Aileen McLeod, ex-Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier, Scottish Borders councillor Heather Anderson, and SNP national executive committee member Alex Kerr.

The European election is on Thursday 23rd May.